The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) is a UK-based specialist finance company that raises long-term capital and lends it to housing associations and other registered providers of social housing. Founded in 1987, it has positioned itself as the UK’s leading affordable housing aggregator, with a central role in helping finance the development, refurbishment, and preservation of social and affordable homes across the country.236
THFC’s core activity is to issue bonds in the sterling capital markets and on-lend the proceeds to housing associations on a non-profit-distributing basis.123 Its annual report states that the group’s principal activity is to provide cost-effective, long-term funding to not-for-profit UK Registered Providers of Social Housing, supporting work that develops or refurbishes social housing.2 The organisation says it has lent to over 160 housing associations and has provided £8.4 billion to the affordable housing sector.36
The organisation’s mission is closely tied to affordable and sustainable housing. Its website describes THFC as channelling finance into “safe, affordable and sustainable homes,” while its 2023 Sustainability Report places ESG at the centre of its work.36 THFC has also developed specialist funding vehicles, including bLEND Funding and THFC Sustainable Finance, and more recently launched a retrofit funding scheme aimed at low-cost unsecured funding for the retrofitting of social housing.15 This shows an emphasis not only on new supply, but also on improving energy performance and maintaining existing homes.15
Geographically, THFC’s scope is primarily the UK, serving housing associations across all four nations.5 The organisation is headquartered in London, with its registered office at 3rd Floor, 17 St. Swithin’s Lane, London EC4N 8AL.46 Publicly identified senior leaders include Ben Rick (Chief Finance Officer), Martin Fent (Chief Risk and Operations Officer), and Gavin Richards (Head of Re